JIMMY MAHON
Brian Gleeson
A Dubliner, blacklisted compositor and committed socialist. Veteran of the 1913 Dublin lockout, he has little time for Nationalism or Gaelic Ireland unless it entails a socialist state. In the course of Easter week he gravitates towards pragmatism.
Brian Gleeson Bio
Brian’s most recent screen credits include feature film Assassin’s Creed and the forthcoming feature film Tiger Raid. Other recent screen credits include the role of Powell in the BBC’s adaptation of Iain Banks’ novel Stonemouth, and key roles in Stay, Darkness On the Edge of Town directed by Patrick Ryan, Serious Swimmers (a short film), and Ronan and Rob Burke’s feature film Standby, co-starring Jessica Paré; and the role of Gus opposite Kristen Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman. Brian also starred as Sinclair in the BBC’s Quirke and played the lead role in How To be Happy, a feature.
On stage Brian most recently appeared in The Walworth Farce, written by Enda Walsh and directed by Seán Foley, in which he played the role of Seán alongside his father Brendan Gleeson, brother Domhnall Gleeson, and Leona Allen. Prior to that he played Kenneth in the Donmar Warehouse’s acclaimed production of Conor McPherson’s The Night Alive, which also ran at the Atlantic Theatre in New York and was named Best Play of 2013/2014 by the New York Drama Critics Circle.
Brian on the appeal of the role
Well the fictional aspect of it is interesting. We know – or we think we know – the story so well. Actually exploring how it affects what would seem to be normal people that are caught up in it is a very interesting angle. Also, the way we tell stories now, in long form in television, is a great way of really digging in deep and getting to the core of that world you know. I don’t think a movie could do it justice.
Brian on Jimmy
He’s a member of the Irish Citizens Army, which was a faction within the Rebel contingent that fought in 1916. But actually their aims were a bit different to the rest of the volunteers; they were all about a workers’ republic. So, that to me was another really interesting part of the script – the socialist angle. His hero and mentor is James Connolly, who said, “hold on to your rifles when this fight is over” because he sort of foresaw that there’d be a struggle within the Irish army. So it’s interesting because you see the tension between the Irish Citizens Army and the rest of the army guys.
I think Jimmy’s kind of a modern man in a way you know. What’s interesting about those guys is that they were feminists you know, and they believed in OAP rights. So, they were real trailblazers in that sense. He was kind of ahead of his time, and that’s been great to play.
Brian on Jimmy’s attitude to his brother, Arthur
Ultimately, I think Jimmy doesn’t hate his brother but he hates the British Army and he hates what they’re doing to the young men of Ireland; sending them off and killing them over in Flanders and Gallipoli and all these places. It’s kind of tragic in a way. He feels like it’s justified but he understands that someone like his brother is involved and they have to be because that’s the only way they’ll get money – by joining the army.